POSTINGS: Razing or Reuse?; Sanctuary's Fate In the Balance

Published: May 30, 1993

In 109 years, the Moorish Revival temple at 32 Prince Street has gone from the hands of Congregation Oheb Shalom, which built it, to Congregation Adas Israel to the Metropolitan Baptist Church, which has worshiped there since 1940, to the City of Newark, which acquired it for the University Heights redevelopment.

Preservationists hope that the story doesn't end there.

"This building, as far as I know, is the last remnant of the earliest Jewish community of Newark," said Mark W. Gordon, a member of Oheb Shalom and of the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee. He said it was one of the five oldest synagogue structures in the metropolitan area.

Although the city planned to raze the building, the Development Department is waiting until Aug. 20 to hear from prospective buyers who would rehabilitate and reuse the structure. Marshall Cooper, director of development, said the city would entertain proposals to move the structure off the site, where K. Hovnanian Companies is planning to build 200 of the 1,200 units in its Society Hill residential project.

The Baptist congregation hopes to move by year's end into a new church nearby.

Photo: The former Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark. (Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee)